Knowing the normal and abnormal colors of amniotic fluid will help a woman know when to seek care from their provider. A majority of women will not have their water break until they are in active labor. The color of amniotic fluid can be clear, light yellow, green, brown, and rarely pink. If you are unsure of the color, bringing the pad with you or sending a photo can be quite helpful to your care provider. Having an incontinence pad also makes it easier to evaluate the color of the amniotic fluid. Some women place a pad under the fitted sheet of their bed in case the water breaks while sleeping. I advise all of my clients to have incontinence pads (“puppy pads” or “chux pads”) on hand to protect the sofa, chairs, car, bed, etc. If the baby has had a bowel movement or the mother has placental bleeding, amniotic fluid can be stained (as discussed below). Other contents floating in the amniotic fluid are hormones, antibodies, nutrients, electrolytes, fetal cells, and vernix (the protective substance that coats the baby’s skin). At the beginning of pregnancy, the fluid mostly comes from the mother but by the end of pregnancy most of the fluid is urine from the baby. This special fluid cushions and protects the baby throughout the pregnancy. The color of amniotic fluid is impacted by its contentsĪmniotic fluid is not just water. Has no color or is light yellow, green, or brown If laying down the baby’s head doesn’t prevent the water from coming out. If the baby is head down, the head can act like a cork when in upright positions. For a majority of women, they have a “crack” in the amniotic sac and amniotic fluid trickles out. For some women, they have a big popping sensation and water pours out. Sometimes it’s difficult to know if the water has broken. How do I know if my water broke or is leaking? The second question is always: what is the color? The color of amniotic fluid can tell me quite a bit about the health status of the baby. When a woman’s water breaks, the first question that I ask her is what time her water broke.
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